THE VIEW FROM RIZAL
One of the social media images of 2024 which carried a lot of meaning was that of the long convoy of Russian soldiers on trucks making a quiet and orderly withdrawal from Syria, days after the country fell into the hands of rebel forces.
International media covering the withdrawal described the event as “somber” and “peaceful” – no cheering and no jeering – even as the Syrian people celebrated the exit of the powerful army that kept in power the dictator they deposed after more than a decade of authoritarian rule.
The word “defeat” was hardly mentioned in the narrative of the media coverage. Analysts, however, were quick to point that out. The fact is that the downfall of Syria’s erstwhile ruler was a defeat – not just for the deposed autocrat but for the very superpower that had backed the fallen regime.
Russia’s defeat in Syria showed the futility of fighting on “several fronts.”
Russia is involved in several armed conflicts today. In addition to the invasion of Ukraine, it is also involved in the raging civil wars in the Central African Republic, in Mali, and Burkina Faso.
It appears Russia has a tradition of fighting on “too many fronts.” In the early to mid-’90s, its soldiers were deployed simultaneously in ongoing armed strife in countries like Georgia, Chechnya, South Ossetia, Transnistria, and Tajikistan. It won most of these wars which, perhaps, reinforced its will to engage enemies on several fronts at the same time.
Analysts today say this habit could be Russia’s waterloo. They have a point. Fighting on “too many fronts” causes “depletion.” The armed forces of a country lose several valuable items that are crucial to victory. Their human and technological resources, as well as military hardware, are spread too thin. As a result, the following are depleted: morale, focus, energy, and finally, the will to fight.
As we mark the coming of the new year, it is good to ask ourselves: are we fighting on “too many fronts”?
So, here is a recommended approach to 2025. As a reminder to us all, let us consider and live by the timeless principle of “choosing our battles.”
There are three types of “battles” we fight in our lives. The first is the “external” battles – the fights we pick with other people. The second are the battles we did not choose – for example, debilitating diseases. The third are the “internal” wars – the battles that rage within us.
The “external” battles include the grudges we hold against other people, which push us to think of and even carry out plans of “getting back” or “getting even.” This appears to be the kind of battle we can avoid or ignore. We may even consider these external wars in our lives as our no-win situations. Just like in real wars, it will be good to consider the strategies of “diplomacy,” “alliances,” and “peaceful coexistence.” Our wars with others are, perhaps, the ones that drain our resources most.
Then, there are “battles” we did not choose. These include the setbacks in life caused by the death of a loved one or a struggle with cancer. These are “battles for survival.” They require that we focus our resources to win this type of war. Here, the most important resources of war have to be deployed. These include courage, which involves our ability to face the “enemy.” They include the strength of will – our capacity to withstand the pain inflicted on us and to keep on fighting despite that.
The third type – our internal battles – including our war with our ego, self-limiting beliefs, doubts, fears, and that persistent voice in our heads that tell us, “You are not good enough.”
These are battles that push us out of our comfort zone and force us to reexamine our attitudes, perspectives, and habits.
It is interesting to note that winning our internal battles is crucial to winning the wars we did not choose. It is also interesting to note that many of our external wars are triggered and fueled by our unresolved and unsettled battles raging within ourselves.
We cannot and must not fight on all three fronts. Victory requires us to muster three things: resources; physical, emotional, and mental energies; and, the will to win. Fighting too many battles could spread our resources too thin.
Victory also requires us to focus. Distraction is an enemy of one who fights a battle.
For 2025, I recommend we focus on the battles raging within. Victory in those battles transforms us into better persons and helps us achieve the wins that truly matter in life.
A prosperous and joy-filled 2025 to us all.
(The author is the mayor of Antipolo City, former Rizal governor, DENR assistant secretary and LLDA general manager. Email: [email protected])